BY JUN RAMIREZ
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is adopting a one-strike policy against erring personnel in its bid to end graft and corruption in the service.
BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said he ordered the newly reconstituted board of discipline (BOD) to “carefully assess complaints and reports against erring personnel.”
The BI chief said he will immediately recommend to the Department of Justice (DoJ) the filing of administrative cases against offenders.
BI records showed that a total of 131 personnel has been either suspended, dismissed, or dropped from the rolls for various offenses since 2016.
“We do not tolerate corruption amongst our ranks and we have strengthen the BOD to focus on ridding the office of misfits,” he added.
The BOD is currently headed by lawyer Ronaldo P. Ledesma, who previously served as the bureau’s OIC commissioner and OIC deputy commissioner.
The DoJ has assigned five additional lawyers to the BOD.
Under the one-strike policy, erring personnel who are subject of complaints and investigations will be relieved right away from their posts.
Morente earlier lamented of having no disciplinary powers over immigration employees but the DoJ.
